36. Always Prepared With A Plan B
Chapter 36
Always Prepared With A Plan B
HUNTER
A year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined that I’d be on a date with my fiance and our brand-new baby.
Me, in a committed relationship?
Me, a father?
Neither of those things were ever in the cards for me. But here I am…loving every single minute of it. And truthfully, it feels good not to worry about being shot or shanked at any given moment. Even if this period of peace is just a moment in time, life has taught me that I need to savor every second of it as if it’s my last.
“What kind of place is this?” Megan asks, staring around the room with a bright look on her face.
The San Vista House is an upscale, members-only club with modern architecture and moody lighting. Membership is exclusive and expensive. I’ve been a member for over five years but rarely come. It’s the kind of place you come to when you’re trying to impress a client or a woman, something I never do. Well, until now.
“You like it?”
“You’ve never mentioned this place? Is it okay for us to be here with Deuce?”
“I’m a member. It’s fine.”
“I don’t see any other babies around.”
“If you come on your own one day on a random Tuesday morning, you’ll see quite a few babies, some with their mothers or with their nannies.”
“Ah, okay.”
“This doesn’t really seem to be your style. I bet there’s not a lot of Blue Whiskey clientele in here.”
“There aren’t,” I smirk. “Which is exactly why we’re here.”
“Welcome back, Mr. Middleton,” a man in a black suit with a slender white tie greets us.
“Thank you, Daniel, right?”
“You remembered,” he smiles. “Yes.”
“This is my fiance, Megan, and our son, Deuce.”
Daniel peeps into the carriage to take a look, giving a nod of approval, not that either of us needs it. We already know we have the most handsome boy on the planet, thanks to his mama’s good looks.
“Pleased to meet you both. I have your private room ready for you all. Please let me know when you’re ready for lunch and if you need anything else.”
“Thank you, Daniel.”
“A room?” Megan asks as we walk toward the elevators.
“We can have lunch up in the suite or down here in the main dining room, your choice.” I lean over and give her a kiss on the lips. “Either way, we’ll have some private space if we need to change Deuce or put him down for a nap.”
“So, is this some sort of hotel for private members?”
“It’s a members-only club that has rooms reserved for long stays upon request.” She admires the oversized, ornate chandelier hanging above us. “Do you like it?” I ask, hoping that she does.
“It’s definitely nice. So nice that maybe we should’ve gotten a babysitter?”
“Already on it.” I grin, thankful we’re both on the same page. I already scheduled the baby nurse to come and allow us some time alone. “Ruby is coming in ninety minutes.”
“Hunter.” The look of joy on her face as she places a gentle hand on my chest assures me that I did a good thing.
“I know—I’m amazing.”
“And modest,” she chuckles.
Megan shifts in her seat, her bare shoulder catching the low, golden light of the club’s dining room. I don't know what it is about this woman, but even after months of loving her—of touching her, tasting her—she still manages to make me want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything before.
Deuce is upstairs, sound asleep under the watchful eye of Ruby. And for the first time in what feels like forever, Megan and I are alone.
With no threats.
No chaos.
Just us.
“You really went all out, didn’t you?” she muses, trailing her fingertips along the rim of her wine glass. “A private suite and”—she gestures to the floor-to-ceiling windows—“a perfect view of the city skyline. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to seduce me. Just like in Paris."
I smirk, leaning back in my chair. “Who says I’m not?”
She raises a playful brow. “You don’t have to try so hard, you know.”
“That so?”
Megan shifts forward, propping her chin on her palm as she studies me with a mischievous gleam in her eye. “I hate to break it to you, but you had me the moment we walked through the doors of this place. And the fact that you scheduled Ruby to give us time alone tonight only seals the deal. I’m what you call a sure bet, Mr. Middleton.”
I reach across the table and hook my fingers around her wrist, tugging her hand into mine. “I love a sure bet.”
She laughs, the sound filling the quiet space between us. “I know you do.”
The waiter arrives with our entrées—perfectly seared filet mignon for me, a delicate truffle risotto for her. Megan takes one bite and lets out a small, satisfied moan.
I grip my fork a little tighter.
I want inside of her in the worst way.
“Okay,” she sighs, eyes fluttering shut for a moment. “You were right, as usual. This place is amazing.”
I grin. “Being right wasn’t the goal, but I’ll take it.”
She tilts her head. “Then what was the goal?”
I study her, the way the candlelight catches in her brown eyes, the way her heart-shaped, full lips curve in amusement, the way every little thing about her makes me feel…whole.
“To give you a night where you don’t have to think about anything else but us.”
Her teasing expression softens, and for a brief moment, she doesn’t say anything. Then, she exhales, shaking her head as if I’ve knocked the wind out of her.
“Damn it, Hunter,” she murmurs, setting her fork down and leaning closer. “You’re making it very hard for me to pretend like I’m not completely in love with you.”
I smirk. “Then stop pretending.”
Her gaze flickers to my mouth, and just like that, the air thickens. We’ve been here before—this dance of push and pull, teasing and taking. But something about tonight feels different. Maybe it’s the privacy. Maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time in a long time, we’re allowed to just be.
Megan shifts in her seat, her hand tightening around mine. “Are you gonna kiss me or just sit there looking smug?”
I stand, walking around the table to pull her up and against me. “I was thinking of doing a lot more than just kissing you.”
She smiles against my lips. “You better be, but how? Our private room is a little occupied right now.”
“The great thing about being me is that I always have a Plan B.”
“Is that right?” she says seductively.
“Always,” I whisper.
I kiss her, slow and deep, my hands slipping around her waist, fingers splaying over her lower back. When I finally pull away, she’s breathless, her lips still parted like she wants more.
Hell, I definitely want more.
I brush a strand of hair from her cheek, my voice low. “Marry me.”
“Hunter–” Her eyes dance with amusement. “We’re already engaged.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She lets out a soft laugh. “What other answer could there be? I’ve already said yes.” She flashes her ring for me to see. “The ring is proof.”
“The ring is a promise, but I want you to marry me now,” I demand.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’m determined to make an honest woman out of my baby’s mama.” I trace slow circles on her lower back, keeping her close. “So, what’s stopping you from picking a date?”
Megan pulls back slightly, rolling her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that we just had a baby? That I’m exhausted? That I still don’t know if you’ll survive a day without someone trying to kill you or kidnap me?”
“Survive a day?” I arch a brow. “Trust me, no one’s ever going to take you from me again and give me some credit—I haven’t been shot, stabbed, or kidnapped in months. That’s got to count for something.”
She shakes her head, smiling despite herself. “The wild part about that statement is just how true it is.”
“So, we’re in agreement. Let’s set a date.”
Megan exhales, clearly trying to play it cool, but I see the hesitation in her eyes. “Hunter, I just?—”
I cup her face, my thumb stroking over her cheek. “Do you love me?”
She blinks, caught off guard. “You know I do.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” My voice drops, softer now. “I want this, Megan. I want you. I don’t want our son growing up the way either of us did. I want him to grow up knowing his parents are in love and we're in this for the long haul. No doubts. No hesitations.”
Her throat bobs with a swallow. “We’re already in this for the long haul.”
“Stop stalling, beautiful.” I press a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth with no concern about the other people in the dining room. “Marry me next month.”
Megan chuckles, resting her forehead against mine. “Next month? Who can plan a wedding in a month?”
“Justice of the Peace is fine by me.”
She’s quiet for a long moment, and for a second, I think she’s about to find another excuse. But then, she tilts her head, studying me with something unreadable in her expression. “Three months,” she finally says.
I lean back, my smirk widening. “That sounds like a yes.”
“As long as there’s no drama–”
“Like your sister showing up at our house?” I quip back, knowing that she thinks she was able to keep that little visit under wraps.
“Lars is such a snitch,” she laments.
“Who works for me.” I remind her.
“And will also work for me when we get married in three months. He’ll have to reevaluate his loyalties then.”
I kiss her again, long and slow, until I feel her melt against me. “If you marry me in three months, I’ll make sure Lars only takes orders from you moving forward.”
“You’d give up your most loyal employee just to marry me?”
“Do you really need me to answer that?” I growl. Her head tilts up, and her lips meet mine.
“Nope.”
And just like that, the deal is sealed.
We're getting married.